soholl



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

JOHN T. SOHOLL, OF PORT VASHINGTON, IISOONSIN.

LIFE-BOAT.

Specication of Letters Patent No.

31,562, dated February 26, 1861.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. SoHoLL, of

Port Washington, in the county of Ozaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life- Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accomn panying drawings, which make a part of this specification.

longitudinal vertical section of Fig. et. Fig

6, shows a cross section of one of the packed joints.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The following is an outline of my invention.

1st. The hull of the boat is constructed in the shape of a cylinder terminated at each end by a cone. The cylindrical part of the hull, as well as the conical parts, in-part, is made up of oblong slats, of wood or of metal, jointed and hinged together in such a manner asto admit of folding up. In order to make the hull watertight the'whole is covered by a waterproof fabric, which is protected ,by plates of sheet metal of the same dimension, and occupying a position, as the slats before mentioned. Thus constructed the hull can be folded, so as to represent 'a plane of a few inches only, to be stowed away until wanted for use.

2nd. Two disks or circular heads are secured by hinges, one into each end of the cylindrical part of the hull, for the purpose of holding the same in a dilated condition for accommodating passengers, and for enabling it to resist the shocks of a high sea without injury. The heads are constructed of several sections, hinged together, in order to provide for the folding thereof in their assigned positions.

3d. A suitable carriage with appropriate rollers is arranged within the hull, to roll on its inner surface. The hull and carriage are quite independent of one another, so that the former may perform complete revolutions, under a high sea, without affecting the latter or its occupants.

4th. An arm of the proper shape is arranged inside of the hull, to open certain air valves. This is to provide for ventilation, when the hull is revolving under a high sea. i

5th. A propeller is constructed of separate wings and arranged on a hub, in such a manner, that they may be folded, with the boat.

6th. Springs, are properly placed within the boat, for the purpose of fitting it up, when in a. folded condition, without delay for passengers.

To enable persons skilled in the art of constructing lifeboats, to build a boatv in accordance with my invention, I proceed to describe it-s construction and operation.

The body of my improved boat, is of a cylindro-conical form when properly dilated. The cylindrical part of the boat is formed of oblong rectangular slats a, o, a, a, a', o', placed in a direction parallel with the axis of the boat; their upper and lower, as well as ytheir side surfaces are made to conform to the shape of a cylinder, when all are taken together. One slat on each side of the cylindrical part and directly opposite one to the other, is intended to be stationary, and both slats a, a', taken together determine the thickness of the plane into which the cylindrical part is to fold. Of the-other slats a, a, a, c, which help to form the cylindrical part, an equal, but odd number is placed on both sides of the before mentioned, (side and) stationary slats a', a. the folding thereof, the slats a, a, a, are hinged at Z2, Z2, o, near their ends on the outside among themselves, while the lateral slats a, a, at their free sides are hinged to the (side and) stationary slats a, a', on the inside of the cylindrical part; thus the before mentioned slats a, a, a, a, may fold t0- ward each other until they describe a plane;

while the (side and) stationary slats a, a,

recede somewhat from the axis of the cylindrical part.

The conical parts of the boat, are each constructed of two slats, in outline corresponding to the slats already mentioned, and of a length to suit the slant ofthe parts. These slats fill an office similar to the sta- To effect tionary slats a, o, of the cylindrical part,

the slats forming the bow of the boat; While two hinges unite the free ends of the slats which form the stern, to a cross piece which carries the propeller shaft. The hinges are placed on the outside of the parts. The slats of the conical parts thus arranged will, at their bases, (when the bevel of the slats is sufficiently increased,) recede somewhat farther from the axis of the parts, to allow them to fold. It will readily be understood that the portions of the conical parts, might be supplied by triangular slats hinged together, except a part. The skeleton hull thus far constructed, is next covered with a waterproof fabric, c, placed, and secured upon the cylindrical part, While said part is folded, and the fabric is entered into the joints formed by the stationary slats a, a', and the adjoining slats a, a, a, a; the fabric is then extended from the edge of the cylindrical part, while said part is dilated, over the slats of the conical parts, and secured thereto from base to apex. This covering gives to the ends of the boat a somewhat conical appearance. The cylindrical part of the boat, could have been made watertight, as readily, by interposing a double or fold of waterproof fabric between every two slats, properly placed and fastened, so as to work in accordance with the hinges.

For the purpose of sheathing the waterproof fabric, c, plates of sheet metal are used, of the same dimension as the slats before described, and suitably secured thereto, through the fabric. These plates are marked d, ol, cZ, e, e,- and e', e. These plates are not necessary, when the'. joints have been made watertight, by the interposition of a fold of waterproof fabric, as above described.

The conical part constituting the bow of the boat, is covered from its apex to near its base, except where already covered, with triangular plates of sheet metal f, f, f, hinged, one to the other, and firmly secured to the fabric c, covering and helping to form said conical part. The part near the base not to be covered by the plates f, f, f, may be clearly comprehended by folding a cone, and cutting off the arc described by itsbase by a chord or straight line.

The part near the base of the conical part, before explained (and a little more) is covered by small angular plates of metal g, g, suitably and lirmly secured to the before described fabric c. The metal plates are placed, as are shingles on a roof, so that one may be made to slide over the other, when the boat is to be folded; since the before mentioned part, has to disappear before said folding can be effected. The object, as attained by the small plates g, g, may also be attained, byhavinguthe trianular plates f, f, f, extend the fail length o? the conical surface, and slightly project beyond the edge of the cylindrical part, well secured to the fabric 0, below, in nearly every part, except that, before described and at the base of the conical surface. The bases of the plates thus arranged, will, while the boat is folding, advance over the plates d, (l, of the cylindrical part, and describe an arc, similar, as has been before explained: while the fabric c, will shoot transverse wrinkles into the conical part, so as to efface a like arc, or its equivalent. The conical part constituting the stern may be treated in a similar manner, when desirable. A door 0 is cut into the upper surface of the cylindrical part, tting down watertight.

A disk or circular head A, is secured within each end of the cylindrical part, to hold the boat in a dilated condition, when desired, and to brace the hull in its cylindrical part.

To provide for the folding of the heads, within the cylindrical part of the boat, and in accordance with it, they are constructed of three sections, of wood, but may be of metal; the middle section is no wider than is necessary to transmit the propeller shaft B,'soon to be described, and is hinged Figs. 2, 3, il, 5, at bothsides to its lateral section. The hinges are placed on the heads so as to face the conical parts. Each lateral section of each head, is next secured by a hinge 7L, Figs. 2 and 3, by the middle of its free edge, to the odd o1' midway slat between the stationary slats a', a. The hinges are placed on theinside surface of the cylindrical part.

It will be understood, that by pulling the middle sections of the heads simultaneously toward the middle of the cylindrical part, the heads and other parts will fold. In case that the heads are made very thick, they require to be beveled, at several places of their' circumferences on the inner edge. The heads are held in a straight position, by springs j, j, soon to be described, from the inside of t-he cylindrical part, and by blocks secured to the ends of the slats af, a', from the other side. Using metal instead of wood in the construction of the above described heads, and 5 sections instead of 3, and springs of tension instead of springs of compression, theyl could readily be made to fold into the conical parts, and thus gain an advantage which will become apparent hereafter.

The carriage G placed inside of the cylindrical part, for the comfort and safety of the passengers, is constructed of oblong slats of metal,hinged together, and so placed as to conform to the folding of the cylindricalpart. The length of this carriage is limited by the folding of the heads inward. Since it is desirable that the carriage should be of the full length of the cylindrical part inside, it might be made extensible, by having one part slide over another. The width of the carriage should be determined by the semicircumference of the boat. The carriage rests upon small rollers so that it may roll inside of the cylindrical part, or that the latter may roll about the former. In order to ix the carriage to the cylindrical part, and to have it participate in the motions thereof, a hook and staple form the connection. For the comfort of the passenger's, the carriage should be furnished with adjustable or folding seats.

A link j), unites the carriage on one side to the wheelframe a, soon to be described; this link, while it changes its position from the vertical to the horizontal, while the parts are folding, allows the wheelframe a, to recede from the wall of the cylindrical part without dragging the carriage Gr, from the wall of the part just mentioned. The wheelframe z, swings on the propeller shaft B; it carries a spurwheel with shaft and crank, to rotate the pinion spur m, fixed to the shaft B, before mentioned.

In the large model it will be necessary to have the wheelspur as small as the pinion spur, and by means of intermediate spurs of a similar size, say 2 or 3, the wheel carrying the crank is to be sufficiently removed from the propeller shaft that no interference of crank and propeller shaft may take place, when the latter is to be rotated. The wheel frame a, is held nearly midway between the heads A, A, already described, by springs j, y', hereafter to be described.

The propeller shaft B, is a strong rod of metal occupying the true axis of the boat; it commences in the conical part constituting the bow of the boat, and traversing the centers of both heads A, A, it issues at the stern part, where it displays a propeller'. This shaft B, has its bearings in the heads and in the stern part, which latter bearing requires to be watertight.

The 4mode of effecting ventilation in the closed vessel so far described, consists in arranging apertures of suitable caliber S, S, S, S, represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, at equal distances in the circumference of the cylindrical part., in a circular belt. Spring valves S', S, S', S', constructed of any suitable material, are secured near to the above mentioned apertures, and when left to themselves perfectly close them against the entrance of either air or water. In order that these valves may be opened when necessary, that is when the door of the boat is closed, and it is revolving under a high sea, they (valves) are provided with light angular levers, hinged in the angle in such a manner, that the legs of every lever may close together in one direction, but not open beyond a right angle in the other direction. These levers are so placed and secured by one leg to the spring valves, that any sufficient resistance encountered byl the legs vertically to the valves, when moving with the cylindrical part of the boat, in a direction to carry the ust mentioned legs beyond a right angle,

the valves will be opened and kept so, until the resistance is passed by. When the resistance is met in the other direction, then the levers will close and not affect the valves; therefore the valves with their levers should be placed alternately left and right. (Only one of the above described a ertures, valves and levers, has been exhibitec in the model.) To improve the valves above described, they might be constructed double, so as to close two apertures coalescing into one, justbefore passing through the wall of the boat; every valve being supplied with two levers placed opposite, so that a resistance from either side, will open one of the apertures.

The resistance above described is supplied by means of an arm r, whose highest part,

corresponds in outline with the inner surfacel of the cylindrical part for a requisite length; it is pivoted to the wheelframe already described, and is held at an exact distance from the inner surface of the cylindrical part, so that the right angular lever in its passage is caught, and its valve opened by it.

The arm r, just described, occupies a position opposite to that of the carriage B, and while the latter searches the lowest level, the former searches the highest within the cylindrical part; and thus, only such valves can be acted on by the arm, as are for the time moving about it.

T o provide for the folding of the arm 1 in accordance with the boat, it is held in its proper osition by a torsion coil spring, which oerslsuflicient support to the arm r, and presents elasticity enough to allow the arm to be carried into the plane, described by the stationary slots a', a.

vIn addition to the above arrangements for ventilation, it would be quite easy to construct a collapsible fan, placed upon the propeller shaft, which shaft should be made hollow toward the stern, so that the air from the inside of the boat, might be forced through said shaft, and-while issuing at the stern, aid in propelling the boat.

The boat is to be advanced through the water by means of a propeller, constructed of separate wings t, t, t, t, arranged on a hub a represented in Figs. l and 3, each two wings are held sufhciently apart for service by a knee lever, which when forced between the wings will firmly 'x them and give them the requisite Obliquity, but when pulled away by increasing its angle, it will allow the wings to fold, two and two together; so as to occupy no thicker plane, than the boat when folded.

The steering of the boat is effected, by an oblong rectangular plate w, hinged to each side of the boat near the stern, the free end of which holds a rope communicating with the inside of the boat. By pulling the rope of either plate, the plates angle will be increased by bringing it away from the side of the boat, and thus offer more resistance on that side, to the boats progress in the water; when a sidewise movement of the boat will, of course, take place. (Only one of the above plates w, is exhibited in the model.) Suitable lenses might be placed in the wall of the cylindrical part, to adlnit light into the boat, when it would not be safe to have the door open.

A full description of the boats construction has now been given, and it has been explained, how the folding thereof has been l provided for; but as yet nothing has been said, as to the manner in which the boat is to be expanded and fitted up for use without the least delay. This is to be accomplished by means of two coil springs of sufficient strength, marked j, j, and before incidentally noticed, which are placed around the before mentioned and described propeller shaft B; each one occupies a place between the wheelframe and one of the heads A, A, already described.

The coil springs j, j, it will be seen, are compressed by the folding of the heads into the cylindrical part of the boat, and will remain in this condition until the heads are set free, when the springs will expend their force in an instant upon the heads, and force them into their proper and straight position, expanding the boat at the same time.

The propeller is intended to be expanded by the stern, while advancing on the propeller shaft, during the expanding of the boat, by straightening t-he kneelever before described between each two wings.

To effect the folding of the'boat in an easy manner, suitable ropes and pulleys may be attached to the middle section of each head, A, to be worked through the door; while the slats a, a, of the cylindrical part oppolever being placed on the outside of the v boat and connectedwith one of the hooks, so that the hooks might be disconnected by a simple depression of the lever, thus setting the heads A, A, free.

Having given a full description of my invention, I should like to obtain Letters Patent for the following claims.

l. The cylindroconical life boat, constructed of separate slats a, a, a, a, a, a, hinged together and capable of folding up, as described; in combination with a waterproof fabric c, and metallic sheathing (Z, cl, d, c, e, and e, e', f, f, f, and g, g, all arranged Aand applied substantially as, and for the purpose herein described.

2. In combination with the cylindrical part of the boat, the hinged folding heads A, A, arranged, and operating as, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The carriage G, link 29, wheelframe e, apertures S, spring-valves S, spring and arm 1", levers and propeller wings t, and the coil springs j, j, when the same are constructed, combined, and made to operate, as herein specified.

JOHN T. SCHOLL.

Titnesses ROBERT POWER, ROBERT F. CHRISTIAN. 

